Every single water company in England and Wales now facing huge sewage investigation by regulator
Ofwat aim to conclude the cases against the water companies ‘as quickly as possible’ so the sector can focus on cleaning up the rivers and seas
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain’s water industry regulator is now investigating all of England and Wales’ water companies over sewage spills.
Ofwat announced on Tuesday that it has served enforcement notices on Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities companies.
The regulator has already taken out enforcement cases against Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water and Yorkshire Water, with extensive investigations ongoing.
Southern Water remains subject to enforcement monitoring following a previous enforcement case in 2019.
The action is part of the organisation’s investigation into how companies manage their wastewater treatment works and networks.
David Black, Ofwat’s chief executive, said: “The fact that Ofwat now has enforcement cases with all 11 of the wastewater companies in England and Wales demonstrates how concerned we are about the sector’s environmental performance.
“This is the largest and most complex investigation Ofwat has undertaken.”
The latest four cases were opened after detailed analysis of data on the companies’ environmental performance and frequency of spills from storm overflows.
Sewage spills from water infrastructure have contributed to a situation in which no single river in England is considered to be in good overall health, and beauty spots including Windermere in the Lake District have been polluted.
Storm overflows – which release untreated wastewater into rivers and seas when there is heavy rain to prevent sewers becoming overwhelmed – dumped sewage into the environment 464,056 times and for more than 3.6 million hours in 2023.
Fines are issued to companies which breach legal obligations to protect the environment. Between the start of 2015 and July 2023, more than £150m were collected through 59 prosecutions for environmental offences.
Mr Black said the regulator wanted to conclude the cases “as quickly as possible”, so that the sector can focus on spending £88 billion as part of its latest plan to “deliver cleaner rivers and seas”.
Funding for the investment will partly come from a rise in household water bills, which has been capped to an average of £94 over a five-year period, instead of the £144 proposed by the water companies.
United Utilities said in a statement: “We understand and share people’s concerns about the health of the environment and the operation of wastewater systems, including combined sewer overflows.”
Severn Trent said it had “committed to going further and faster than anyone else in the sector” in relation to tackling sewage overflows.
Both firms said they would “work constructively” with Ofwat in its investigation.